Rooming House Review

Client: City of Toronto

The City of Toronto wanted to hear from residents, tenants, and neighbourhoods about the benefits, challenges, and solutions associated with both licensed and unlicensed rooming houses in Toronto. Due to the extensive experience of Public Interest in community engagement with diverse communities, the City contracted us to conduct community-based research exploring needs and priorities the City had to focus on.

Public Interest conducted a neutral and systematic review of existing benefits and challenges as well as potential solutions related to the rooming house stock in Toronto. Our team facilitated 14 neighbourhood consultations, 7 tenant focus groups, 1 focus group with licensed and unlicensed owners and operators, 2 key informant interviews with licensed owners/operators, and we also created an online survey. Within 3 months, Public Interest successfully completed all of the community consultations and engaged a diverse set of community members. Public Interest submitted a final report to the City of Toronto based on our research findings. The City of Toronto will be taking this report to the Rooming House Working Committee and City Council to determine its subsequent proceedings.

To view the report and provide feedback to the City of Toronto, click here.